Conor Benn main events in Manchester tonight
(Getty Images)
Conor Benn will put his unbeaten record and WBA Continental welterweight title on the line tonight, as the Briton takes on South Africa’s Chris van Heerden.
The pair will main event at the AO Arena in Manchester as Benn, son of boxing icon Nigel, attempts to move closer to a marquee match-up at 147lbs. Last time out, the 25-year-old Benn stopped Chris Algieri in the fourth round in November, improving his record to 20-0 (13 knockouts). Van Heerden, meanwhile, fought to a No Contest against Jaron Ennis due to a cut to the South African’s head from an accidental headbutt. That bout took place in December 2020, so the 32-year-old Van Heerden (28-2-1, 12 KOs) will likely have to overcome some ring rust as well as hostile fans if he is to beat Benn.
Benn said this week: “I believe I’m ready for a world title now. I’m ready for the top dogs now. The proof is in the pudding, it’s not like I’m going to beat a domestic fighter and going, ‘Yeah, I’m world level.’”
Follow live, round-by-round updates from Conor Benn vs Chris van Heerden and the undercard fights this evening.
Benn vs Van Heerden
Campbell Hatton def. Ezequiel Gregores via decision (60-54).
A fair result but lots to work on for Hatton, who moves to 7-0, no doubt.
alex pattle16 April 2022 21:17
Benn vs Van Heerden
Hatton vs. Gregores – Round 6
Hatton’s flicking out the jab. Gregores is looking for a finish.
He can’t find it and we’ll go to the judges’ scorecards…
alex pattle16 April 2022 21:15
Benn vs Van Heerden
Hatton vs. Gregores – Round 5
Hatton walks onto a stern right hook! He’s still being fairly reckless, though there’s no debate he’s dominating the fight.
One-two and an uppercut from Hatton.
Gregores is stumbling all over the place when he misses with his punches…
alex pattle16 April 2022 21:11
Benn vs Van Heerden
Hatton vs. Gregores – Rounds 3 and 4
Gregores still looks tired, and he’s starting to get wobbled now.
Counter hooks from Hatton are the most effective punches right now.
Meanwhile, Gregores’ punches are increasingly wild and sloppy.
alex pattle16 April 2022 21:04
Benn vs Van Heerden
Hatton vs. Gregores – Round 2
More of the same from Hatton: hyper-aggression in the form of relentless, spiteful hooks – many of them to the body.
There’s an element of reckless abandon to this, though, and twice the Briton is caught flush with left hooks to the head.
It’s still Hatton’s round, but his corner should probably urge some caution here.
Hatton took those punches well, but how many can he eat overall?
alex pattle16 April 2022 20:58
Benn vs Van Heerden
Hatton vs. Gregores – Round 1
A very aggressive start from Hatton, who flings out one-twos and vicious hooks to the body.
Gregores, 28, looks to be breathing heavily already.
alex pattle16 April 2022 20:53
Benn vs Van Heerden
Next up, Campbell Hatton – son of British boxing icon Ricky – faces Ezequiel Gregores at lightweight.
Twenty-one-year-old Hatton is 6-0, 2 KOs, while Argentinian Gregores is 3-9.
alex pattle16 April 2022 20:52
Benn vs Van Heerden
Alycia Baumgardner def. Edith Soledad Matthysse via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-90).
A shutout victory for Baumgardner on all three judges’ scorecards. The American retains her super-featherweight belts with ease!
alex pattle16 April 2022 20:38
Benn vs Van Heerden
Baumgardner vs. Matthysse – Round 10
Baumgardner spends most of the round head-hunting but targets her challenger’s body late in the round.
We’ll go to the judges’ scorecards, with the American’s first title defense looking like a successful one.
alex pattle16 April 2022 20:35
Benn vs Van Heerden
Baumgardner vs. Matthysse – Round 9
Matthysse shows great heart to keep coming forward, and produces her best round in a while. Still, the talk from Baumgardner’s corner is of a “shutout.” It’s likely in all honesty.
alex pattle16 April 2022 20:32
www.independent.co.uk
